Andrew Thomas: All-American anchor of Georgia offensive line

Saturday

ATHENS — On a wall on the first floor of the Butts-Mehre building, down the hall from the football team meeting room, pictures of All-Americans produced by Georgia are on display.

It’s filled with those who once wore the red and black, except for one player who still does: Andrew Thomas.

The junior offensive left tackle is the first Bulldogs offensive lineman named to an All-American team to return since Matt Stinchcomb in 1998.

“It’s the same approach every season,” Thomas said. “Just trying to be better than I was the previous year.”

Thomas was named first-team All-American by SI.com and second team by The Associated Press and Walter Camp.

Thomas has started 28 games in two seasons, tied with quarterback Jake Fromm for most of any offensive player. He was a freshman All-American in 2017 when he started every game at right tackle and started all but one game at left tackle last season, missing one with an ankle injury.

“Right when he got here, you could just tell he carried himself different in practice,” tight end Charlie Woerner said. “He already knew his stuff really well. That’s the main thing for a freshman to do. You have to get the playbook down first so you can play fast. ... It all happened very quick for him, and I was able to tell pretty quick he was going to be a good player.”

The 6-foot-5, 320-pound product of Pace Academy in Atlanta joined Fromm a few weeks ago in a trip to Indianapolis during the NFL combine. They were among approximately 25 selected to take part in the NCAA’s Elite Football Symposium for those considered top draft-eligible prospects for 2020.

The symposium offered guidance on such things as selecting an agent and staying in good academic standing, according to the NCAA website’s story from the first year it was held in 2017.

Thomas said he learned a lot about the draft process and becoming financially literate.

“It was a great time, it was a little eye-opening," Thomas said. "I didn’t know as far as NFL contracts, once you get your contract, they take 42 percent off right off the bat. I didn't realize that."

Thomas is part of a seasoned group on the Bulldogs' offensive line now.

Left guard Solomon Kindley is entering his third year as a starter. Right guard Ben Cleveland was a starter for the final five games in the 2017 season and in the first four games of 2018 before sustaining a broken fibula. Right tackle Isaiah Wilson enters his second year as a starter.

Georgia ranked fourth in the SEC last season in sacks allowed at 1.43 per game and topped the SEC in rushing at 238.8 yards per game.

“A lot of us are older,” Thomas said. “I think we have a really good bond and I’m excited to see what we’re going to do this year.”

Coach Kirby Smart last season called Thomas as a sophomore “one of our best leaders.”